Cup O-Joe

Ahhh....the satisfying taste of coffee in the morning. Delicious! Or, the pick me up during a sluggish afternoon. Yum! Coffee holds a big marketplace in our society. Besides having a Starbucks on nearly every corner, I even have one in my place of business. I know, I'm lucky :-) But, did you know that coffee beans are the most chemically treated food in the world? Also, coffee bean trees, which naturally grow in the dense rainforest, are now being eliminated due to an uprise in man produced sun-resistant coffee bean trees. So sad.


So, guess what? There is such a thing as organic coffee. Wow! I really had no idea. These coffee beans are grown without the use of chemicals and in the much needed shade they deserve. Beyond being organically grown, there exists fair trade coffee as well. Much of the coffee trade industry exists of middlemen gaining lots of money and the farmer getting very little. This is in part due to the excessive sun-resistant coffee bean trees. Fair trade coffee allows for minimal transactions between the farmer and the consumer, therefore creating a more stable wage for the farmer. 


So, where can we purchase said coffee? Well, there is definitely an online marketplace for organic and fair trade coffee. But what if you want to actually go to a physical store to make your purchase? Both Trader Joes and Whole Foods Market pride themselves on carrying organic products, as well as local fare. And for all of you Starbucks lovers that are shedding a tear, fear not. Starbucks actually serves organic, fair trade coffee. Yea! I cannot wait to try this coffee. 


On a side note, a good friend of mine passed away this week. He was only 35 and engaged to be married this November to his wonderful and beautiful fiance. I am deeply saddened and ask that you please keep his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you.


Have a Healthy Day,


Jessica




http://www.urthcaffe.com/organic.html
http://www.cooperativecoffees.com/resources/papers/organic.html
http://www.grinningplanet.com/2005/01-25/organic-coffee-shade-grown-fair-trade-coffee-article.htm
http://www.traderjoes.com/index.asp
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/
http://www.starbucks.com/blog/4745/our-newest-clover-coffee---organic-timor-leste